Chief Information Officer

Fahrenheit Advisors has been retained by our client, State Corporation Commission (SCC), in their search for a Chief Information Officer (CIO) to join their team in Richmond, VA.

The State Corporation Commission is a state agency with regulatory authority over many business and economic interests in Virginia. Created in 1902, its authority is enumerated in the state Constitution and specific duties and responsibilities by state law. These include regulation of public service organizations (utilities), insurance providers, state-chartered financial institutions, securities, retail franchising, and railroads. It serves as the state's central filing office for corporations, limited partnerships, limited liability companies and Uniform Commercial Code liens. Finally, the SCC operates Virginia’s Health Insurance Exchange.

The SCC's structure is unique – it is Constitutionally-organized as an independent department of state government with delegated administrative and judicial powers. Commission decisions may be appealed to the Virginia Supreme Court. The SCC has three Commissioners, elected by the General Assembly, and 675 full-time staff.

Job Summary

This position requires highly responsible, professional, managerial oversight of the work of the Information Technology Division.

Work includes executive leadership and oversight of technology staff including Business Applications, Infrastructure Services, Asset Management, Technical Services, Service Delivery, Administration and the Planning and Project Management Office. Serves as the senior technology expert, providing leadership and operational oversight of all aspects of digital transformation, technology management, project management and administration in a complex technology environment.

Subject to Chief Administrative Officer oversight, work is performed with significant latitude for the exercise of independent judgment and decision making. Work is reviewed through conferences and evaluation of results.

Essential Functions

Essential functions for the Chief Information Officer include, but are not limited to:

• Developing and implementing a technology vision and strategy that aligns with and supports the business needs and requirements of the agency.
• Implementing a comprehensive enterprise technology architecture/roadmap to ensure that infrastructure, applications resources, and processes are aligned with the organization’s Strategic Plan.
• Establishing and driving technology standards that drive efficiency, security, and satisfy agency customer computing needs.
• Ensuring all aspects of technology service delivery including people, process, and technology are in compliance with applicable legal requirements, security policies, standards, procedures, and industry best practices.
• Cooperating and collaborating with the Office of Information Security (OIS), Office of Internal Audit (OIA) and other stakeholders to help ensure the effectiveness of the organization Information Security Program, effectively managing enterprise IT risks and ensuring compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
• Overseeing the IT project management office in which the main functions are reviewing project planning, portfolio budget, scope, schedule, and resource changes; monitoring the progress of milestones to ensure that commitments are on-time, of high quality and aligned with business needs; and ensuring effective governance of IT projects to enable executive oversight of major projects.
• Ensuring collaboration with all agency division leaders, serving as an advisor for all technology needs and maintaining a customer and citizen focused approach.
• Providing executive leadership and oversight of technology requirements, priorities, projects and staff.
• Developing and managing the ITD budget.
• Implementing and managing an IT governance process that ensures technology acquisitions are reviewed for alignment with agency business needs and meet established security and technology standards.
• Ensuring efficient and timely acquisition of technology related resources.
• Ensuring that technology operating policies, procedures and standards relating to information systems operations are established and routinely evaluated.
• Providing continuing research, consultation, and recommendations to the organization and its divisions regarding IT Service delivery, systems development, systems maintenance, and technical direction.
• Providing leadership and supervision of senior technology leaders.
• Staying current and knowledgeable of new and emerging industry trends, technologies and software development and investigating and evaluating functionality and applicability to the organization.
• Managing, coaching, developing, training and evaluating staff.
• Performing related work as required.
  
  

• 10 or more years of relevant professional experience in information technology operations and project management with an advanced skill set.
• Experience leading and managing professional staff.
• 3 or more years of relevant professional experience at the enterprise level of an information technology organization, and in directing and implementing life-cycle systems development.
• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field; Master’s degree is a plus or specific industry certifications.
• Any equivalent combination of experience, education, or training to meet the experience and education qualifications.
  
  

• Extensive and advanced industry knowledge in information technology and project management required.
• Extensive knowledge of information technology including selection, development, implementation and maintenance of software, database, hardware, network and telephone systems.
• Extensive knowledge of and experience with IT vendor management including knowledge of software licensing agreements, cloud services agreements (including Software as a Service and Infrastructure as a Service agreements), consulting agreements, etc.
• Extensive knowledge of information technology security in a hybrid operational environment.
• Thorough knowledge of organization and management principles and practices.
• Thorough knowledge of the principles of portfolio, program and project management.
• Thorough knowledge of the principles of performance management.
• Thorough knowledge of System Development Lifecycle (SDLC).
• Thorough knowledge of IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) framework and best practices around IT Service Management (ITSM).
• Thorough knowledge of information technology job requirements and best practices for organizational design of ITD teams.
• Knowledge in the use of end-user productivity tools such as end-user devices, remote work, digital workflows and communications.
• Knowledge in the use of a personal computer and its applications, including Microsoft Office, Windows, and Outlook.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills to work effectively with complex technology information, manage technology teams and oversee large-scale projects.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage and oversee several functional areas.
• Ability to solve complex issues.
• Ability to collaborate with managers and executives to develop strategic IT plans.
• Ability to lead process re-engineering projects, including managing both technical and operational aspects.
• Ability to plan, organize, and devise solutions to information technology issues.
• Ability to work effectively with end users and technical staff.
• Ability to explain technical matters clearly and effectively in both a technical and non-technical manner to individuals at all levels of the organization.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with multiple priorities to accomplish.
• Ability to prioritize work but demonstrates flexibility and ability to change course quickly as needed.
• Ability to lead change management initiatives with an understanding of “best practices.”
• Ability to be a creative problem solver and to present leaders with various options to accomplish the best outcomes for all involved.
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a team and exercise good interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage, coach, develop, train, and evaluate staff.
• Ability to express ideas clearly, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to understand ideas expressed both written and orally.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, industry personnel, and the general public.